In the olden days, it would have been no problem (parking). I'm told the Freeborn garage is stacked and packed when it rains.
New housing going up on 5th Street, new hotel on Mace (?), and a new development across from Mrak on the large Nishi property next to the freeway (diagonal property). Nishi was passed by a city ballot. Housing for 2,200 students, only 2 & 3 story buildings, looks bland, boring.
There are several more large projects underway or in planning, as well: Lincoln 40 on 5th across from Greystone, the 7-story replacement for the frat house next to Quarto, another one or two complexes in South Davis...
The vacancy rate is SO low though; it's going to take a LOT of additional development to make a dent in rents.
Lincoln 40 - 700 beds
Davis Live (7 story) - 440 beds
Nishi / Mrak - 2200 beds
Grad location - 890 beds
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New beds - 4300 w / just these 4.
39,000 students, 60% female. When will enrollment growth stop?
Legislative Affairs Office had a paper about potential UC and CSU expansion a year or so ago that estimated "modest" increases (5-10%? IIRC) in enrollment through 2024/25 for the UC system as a whole.
When I was in town for the Eastern game, I took my Dad and my Uncle to De Vere's only to find it had closed too, no doubt not helped by the COVID shutdowns all spring of 2020, and then the summer immediately thereafter, with continued shutdowns into the fall. Going to miss that place, whoever takes it over has a great space.
Is the old university plaza getting torn down? Someone very smart should realize that the students would very much support a reincarnation of the grad when it is rebuilt. Parents, kids, students, athlete teams, dancing, and much more. It is justo much of an UCD institution to go permanently down into history. If much younger I would give it a try. I am sure others feel the same?
If you want burgers and sports, Froggy's/Tommy J's is still downtown. For pizza and sports, we usually (in pre-COVID days) drive out to Lamppost Pizza on Lake.
One place that I am surprised left town not to return was Nation's Giant Hamburgers. You could always tell when the dorm menu was particularly disappointing by the line at Nation's. I know no one will believe me but when it opened hamburgers were $.65 and cheeseburgers were $.75. That was also when keyboards had the symbol for "cents."
I went to nations in Davis a few times as a kid but it was gone by the time I was a student. If I had reason to be in Vacaville I would go out of my way to stop at the one there. A different kind of place but I was also disappointed when Habit burger pulled out. What I gathered from someone who worked downtown was that most all the commercial real estate was owned a by a couple landlords who drove a hard bargain on lease renewals.
- The Grad sits empty, along w the whole University Mall in Limbo. Trader Joe's still open.
- Bistro 33/City Hall Tavern - will become Mamma. In progress remodeling.
- de Vere’s Irish Pub - to become Bull ’N Mouth - also in progress.
I noticed that too on my last trip. University mall just sits and after all that fussing and fighting with the city for permits. G street still closed off. Pedestrian only. Permanent? Downtown Davis’s still a very vibrant little town at night. Last Tuesday night was some sort of sorority thing and I was at the Aggie Inn when scores of young women were walking towards downtown after 12:00 am. Place has a very safe vibe to it. Gotta say I still miss the place!
G Street closure looks semi-permanent. City installed planters and bollards to beautify the street closure, at least. We've been to Woodstocks a couple times since the closure--I really like that area with the street seating.
Last I read re: UMall was that they are fighting with some of the neighbors on the north side over how tall the building will be.